Super Eagles star striker Victor Osimhen reportedly threatened to quit Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign and return to his club in Turkey following a heated incident in Monday’s 4–0 win over Mozambique.
According to reports citing Arise News, Osimhen’s frustration boiled over in the second half of the match after a disagreement with teammate Ademola Lookman over a passing decision. The striker, who had already scored twice in the game, was seen gesturing angrily during play before signalling to be substituted. He was replaced by Moses Simon in the 68th minute.
The situation escalated after the final whistle. Osimhen reportedly left the pitch immediately, skipping the team’s on-field celebrations and the customary post-match huddle. He is said to have confronted officials backstage, dropped his accreditation badge and declared that he was “done” with the national team and wanted to fly back to Galatasaray in Turkey.
Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi and other senior players were involved in attempts to calm Osimhen during the incident. However, the striker’s reaction raised concerns about team harmony at a critical stage of Nigeria’s continental campaign.
Nigeria now prepare for their AFCON quarter-final tie with heightened focus after dismantling Mozambique. Despite the reported clash, both Lookman and teammates have attempted to downplay the issue. In a post-match interview, Lookman emphasised unity and insisted the team remains focused on success in the tournament.
Head coach Eric Chelle also addressed the situation, saying that what happened between players on the pitch would be handled internally and would not affect the group’s overall objectives. His stance suggests that the technical staff are intent on keeping the squad’s attention on the competition rather than off-field distractions.
This development comes at a delicate moment for the Super Eagles, who are in the knockout stages of AFCON and aiming to reclaim continental glory. How the reported friction between Osimhen and Lookman is managed in the coming days could prove pivotal to Nigeria’s tournament hopes.
